Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents on Ft. Lauderdale Sidewalks Can Be Costly for Local Taxpayers

A review of lawsuit settlements over the last 4 ½ years by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel found that injury accidents often occur from people falling on Ft. Lauderdale’s older sidewalks. Although city officials have been able to contest many of the lawsuits, taxpayers have had to pay over $680,000 for the cases that the city has had to settle.

There were 35 personal injury lawsuits involving sidewalk accidents in Ft. Lauderdale in 2007. The newspaper’s review shows that the average lawsuit settlement for these cases runs at around $45,350.

Deterioration is an ongoing problem in Florida, which is one of the oldest cities in Broward County. Records show that even the slightest imperfection in a piece of concrete can cause serious injury. Ft. Lauderdale city officials are meeting this week to determine how much needs to be spent over the next several years to repair the sidewalks. The average sidewalk repair can cost around $800.

Sidewalk Injury Accidents
Sidewalk cracks, a slippery or icy surface, potholes, or broken or uneven concrete are common causes of slip/trip and fall accidents. By law, sidewalks are supposed to be properly maintained so that they contain no hazardous conditions that can lead to serious injuries or death.

In South Florida, we can determine if the city and/or a property owner acted negligently to allow for your injury accident to occur. Slip and fall injuries can be debilitating injuries and can take a while to recover from. Medical and rehabilitation costs can be very expensive-especially if you sustained a serious back injury, broke your hip, or suffered a traumatic brain injury.